I ask because I didn’t know they even existed. I train on Specialized all-weather Armadillo’s because they are heavy and nearly bomb proof. Been running 23’s and bought a new tire without really looking at the spec’s in detail. Thought it was odd getting the wheel past my breaks even when they were relaxed. Rode them today and damn, they felt insanely good. So good I went out bought one for the back. I like to train heavy, so the Zipps REALLY feel fast on race day so I don’t care about the weight…and I really didn’t notice it anyway. Just curious if this is an oddity.
For the last 10 years or so I have kept a wheelset with 25s mounted on it hanging in the garage. I use them everytime I have to ride in the rain. I do use them when it is dry, but no very often. They are slightly heavier, but it honestly isn’t THAT noticeable. I just like being able to run a slightly lower pressure and get that larger contact patch when the pavement is wet.
When I was younger I had a heavy wheelset with 25s, may have actually been 27s, and heavy duty tubes that I thought I would use so that my race wheels felt extra light. It sort of works, but the heavier wheels really affect the handling on the bike, so you have to be careful.
actually, for road riding, i train on 700 x 32s, or sometimes even 700 x 35s. there’s just no point in knocking out all your fillings rough roads while riding on narrow, expensive, relatively short-lived, and rock-hard tires. i like to work when i train, but i like to do it with some comfort.
needless to say, i compete on an entirely different set up. and come race day, training on the fat tires pays off …
I got a set of 25F/28R on one of my bikes that sees more foul weather and/or rough surface duty.
here is an interesting question:
why would a larger contact patch provide more grip in the rain?
before answering, note that the force of static and sliding friction is independent of surface area.
it may just be that the larger, lower psi tire combo damps our inputs to the bike. when you ask a tire to handle a load more gradually, it can handle more peak load before giving out.
dunno, thinking aloud here =)
My fixie was delivered with 25mm slickers. Realy improved the comfort, don’t feel any reduced speed.
I do a lot of training on a cross bike with stout 35mm wire bead cross tires and super extra thick tubes - I run them around 50 to 65 psi when road training.
The biggest difference is in how quickly you slow down when coasting and the extra effort required in accelerating.
It is much more comfortable and seems to reinforces the concept of constantly peddling.
David K
+1
I train on 25’s all the time! In group rides, too.
Armadillos are 'da BOMB(proof)!
25’s were the most common size when I started riding. Standard issue with most new road bikes. Most of us used to race on them. Tire makers play some games with numbers. There are probably some 23’s that are wider than some 25’s.
I commute on the 25’s Armadillos, and also have them on my training road bike. With the wider surface area, they seem to last forever and I have even fewer flats than on the 23’s.
Same here, heavy duty 32 tires with heavy duty tubes & flat protector strip btween tube and tire. I call this my “slow bike”, do ~100-120 mpw train-muting on this set-up, makes the weekend rides with road or tri bike feel light as air. Only have one flat, from a nail that missed the protection strip, on this set-up over couple thousand miles on rough and nasty hike/bike trails. Really smooths out the bumbs and makes accelerations extra hard work.
I’ve been using Conti Gatorskin 25’s on my road bike for several years. No flats and a smoother ride. Like working out with a medicine ball. Makes my tri bike feel much faster.
152 lbs. and I still train on 25s.
I get lazy on raceday, so I don’t switch back to 23s. I don’t think they make that much of a difference. At least if you’re not at the level where you’re vying for a podium spot.
Yep, yep, another 25 rider here. In fact, most of the “fast” riders where I train ride 25s and fenders all winter, and it’s a mild winter here in California.
I ask because I didn’t know they even existed.
REI's two Novara road bike models come with them.
No - I train on 700 x 28 only.
train on 25s all winter, and even race on them occasionally when we’re on courses with awful roads.